TAPS Fish House & Brewery is expanding, opening a second eatery Thursday in Corona.

Joe Manzella, who also operates The Catch in Anaheim, launched the original TAPS in downtown Brea in 1999. Soon after, Manzella said he began looking for another location to expand his upscale casual dining concept.

“Corona was the perfect fit with its strong demographics and explosive growth,” said Manzella, 40.

TAPS isn’t the only Orange County concept adding locations in the Inland Empire. Irvine-based Yard House plans to open a unit in Riverside next month. BJ’s Restaurants, headquartered in Huntington Beach, also has an eatery in Corona. The TAPS in Corona is 17,500 square feet and has seating for 500.

Nancy Luna is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years reporting experience. She's been the Register's restaurant beat writer since 2005, covering some of the biggest players in the industry: In-N-Out, Chipotle, McDonald’s and Taco Bell. Luna also covers dining trends from food halls to food trucks. She writes with authority and is considered an expert in her field.